Blind fasteners

Abstract

A blind fastener may include a bolt. The bolt includes a head, a shank coupled to the head, and a number of external threads formed on the shank. The blind fastener may also include a mount coupled to the bolt, and a fastening block coupled to the mount. The mount may include a body, at least one arm extending from the body, and at least one pivot mount formed on and extending from the arm about which the fastening block pivots.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A blind fastener comprising:
 a bolt including:
 a head; 
 a shank coupled to the head; and 
 a number of external threads formed on the shank; 
 
 a mount coupled to the bolt; and 
 a fastening block coupled to the mount, the mount including:
 a body; 
 at least one arm extending from the body; 
 at least one pivot mount formed on and extending from the at least one arm about which the fastening block pivots; 
 a first orifice defined in the fastening block, the first orifice including first internal threads; and 
 a second orifice defined in the fastening block, the second orifice including second internal threads, 
 wherein the first orifice includes a first axis that is perpendicular to a second axis of the second orifice. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The blind fastener of  claim 1 , further including a spring coupled to the mount and the fastening block, the spring biased to pivot the fastening block about the pivot mount from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the blind fastener. 
     
     
       3. The blind fastener of  claim 1 , further including:
 at least one flange formed on and extending from the mount, 
 wherein the flange supports the fastening block when the fastening block is pivoted from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the blind fastener about the pivot mount. 
 
     
     
       4. The blind fastener of  claim 1 , further including:
 a sleeve including a rigid cylinder positioned around the shank, the sleeve including a notch defined in the rigid cylinder, 
 wherein the mount includes a protrusion formed on and extending from the mount, the protrusion having a shape that mates with the notch. 
 
     
     
       5. The blind fastener of  claim 4 , wherein the protrusion is formed at a position along the mount that is aligned with a second orientation of the fastening block when the fastening block is pivoted about the pivot mount from a first orientation parallel with a longitudinal axis of the bolt to the second orientation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bolt. 
     
     
       6. The blind fastener of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first internal threads mate with the external threads formed on the shank, and 
 the second internal threads mate with the external threads formed on the shank. 
 
     
     
       7. The blind fastener of  claim 1 , wherein:
 when the external threads formed on the shank are engaged with the first internal threads, the fastening block is oriented in a first orientation parallel with respect to a longitudinal axis of the blind fastener, and 
 when the external threads formed on the shank are engaged with the second internal threads, the fastening block is oriented in a second orientation perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blind fastener. 
 
     
     
       8. The blind fastener of  claim 1 , further including:
 a third orifice perpendicular to the first orifice and the second orifice, 
 wherein the third orifice is dimensioned such that the pivot mount formed on and extending from the at least one arm mates with the third orifice. 
 
     
     
       9. A system comprising:
 a bolt including:
 a head; 
 a shank coupled to the head; and 
 a number of external threads formed on the shank; 
 
 a sleeve including a rigid cylinder positioned around the shank, the sleeve including a notch defined in the rigid cylinder; 
 a mount coupled to the bolt; 
 a fastening block coupled to the mount, the mount including:
 a body; 
 at least one arm extending from the body; and 
 at least one pivot mount formed on and extending from the at least one arm about which the fastening block pivots; and 
 
 protrusion formed on and extending from the mount, the protrusion having a shape that mates with the notch, 
 wherein the fastening block comprises:
 a first orifice defined in the fastening block, the first orifice including first internal threads; and 
 a second orifice defined in the fastening block, the second orifice including second internal threads, and 
 
 wherein the first orifice includes a first axis that is perpendicular to a second axis of the second orifice. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , further including:
 at least one flange formed on and extending from the mount, 
 wherein the flange supports the fastening block when the fastening block is pivoted about the pivot mount from a first orientation parallel with a longitudinal axis of the bolt to a second orientation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bolt. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first internal threads mate with the external threads formed on the shank;
 the second internal threads mate with the external threads formed on the shank, and 
 the fastening block further includes a third orifice perpendicular to the first orifice and the second orifice, wherein the third orifice is dimensioned such that the pivot mount formed on and extending from the at least one arm mates with the third orifice. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 when the external threads formed on the shank are engaged with the first internal threads, the fastening block is oriented in a first orientation parallel with respect to a longitudinal axis of the bolt, and 
 when the external threads formed on the shank are engaged with the second internal threads, the fastening block is oriented in a second orientation perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bolt. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 9 , further including insulation within the rigid cylinder of the sleeve. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the rigid cylinder of the sleeve and the bolt have a length that is at least as long as a distance of material through which the rigid cylinder of the sleeve and the bolt are to be extended. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a spring coupled between the mount and the fastening block, the spring biased to pivot the fastening block about the pivot mount from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the bolt. 
     
     
       16. A blind fastener comprising:
 a bolt including:
 a head; 
 a shank coupled to the head; and 
 a number of external threads formed on the shank; 
 a sleeve including a rigid cylinder positioned around the shank, the sleeve including a notch defined in the rigid cylinder; 
 
 a mount coupled to the bolt; 
 a fastening block coupled to the mount, the mount including:
 a body; 
 at least one arm extending from the body; and 
 at least one pivot mount formed on and extending from the at least one arm about which the fastening block pivots, 
 
 wherein:
 the mount is made of a deformable material, 
 the mount includes at least one incline formed on the at least one arm at angle with respect to the at least one arm, and 
 the bolt extends through the mount and fastening block to interface with the incline to deform the at least one arm away from engagement with the pivot mount formed on and extending from the at least one arm. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The blind fastener of  claim 16 , further including:
 at least one flange formed on and extending from the mount, 
 wherein the flange supports the fastening block when the fastening block is pivoted about the pivot mount from a first orientation parallel with a longitudinal axis of the bolt to a second orientation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bolt. 
 
     
     
       18. The blind fastener of  claim 16 , wherein deformation of the at least one arm disengages the fastening block from the pivot mount. 
     
     
       19. The blind fastener of  claim 16 , further comprising a spring coupled between the mount and the fastening block, the spring biased to pivot the fastening block about the pivot mount from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the bolt. 
     
     
       20. The blind fastener of  claim 16 , wherein the fastening block includes:
 a first orifice defined in the fastening block, the first orifice including first internal threads, the first internal threads mating with the external threads formed on the shank; 
 a second orifice defined in the fastening block, wherein:
 the second orifice includes second internal threads, 
 the second internal threads mate with the external threads formed on the shank, and 
 
 the second orifice has a second axis perpendicular to a first axis of the first orifice; and 
 a third orifice perpendicular to the first orifice and the second orifice, wherein the third orifice is dimensioned such that the pivot mount formed on and extending from the at least one arm mates with the third orifice, 
 wherein:
 when the external threads formed on the shank are engaged with the first internal threads, the fastening block is oriented in a first orientation parallel with respect to a longitudinal axis of the blind fastener, and 
 when the external threads formed on the shank are engaged with the second internal threads, the fastening block is oriented in a second orientation perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blind fastener.